In this episode of Genuine Connection, Hannah shares a reflection on the Women and Widows Valentine’s Day event she hosted — a night that brought together over 50 women, from their 20s to their 90s, all showing up in their grief with courage and openness.

What unfolded was something she’ll never forget. There were tears, laughter, stories, and a level of understanding that only comes from being in a room with people who truly get it.

Hannah speaks openly about the emotional weight of holiday traditions, the moments that felt grounding, and the ones that felt especially tender. She also shares that Ian’s birthday is coming up, and what it means to hold both love and loss as the calendar continues to move forward.

This episode is a quiet, honest conversation for anyone navigating grief through the holidays — a reminder that there is no right way to get through the first year, and that simply showing up is enough.

Hannah shares what the early weeks of widowhood have been like — the shock, the identity shift, and the emotional whiplash of sudden loss. Grant opens up about why he felt compelled to create Meet Me Where I Am, what he’s learned about grief, and why he personally reached out to Hannah with his film and a kind note in her early days of grief.

Together, they talk about what truly helps someone in acute grief, the things people often get wrong, and how storytelling can support healing in ways words alone can’t. This conversation is compassionate, grounding, and deeply human — a space where grief, art, and empathy come together.

If you’re grieving, supporting someone who is, or want to understand how to “meet someone where they are,” this episode offers honest insight, comfort, and connection.

Hannah opens up about the sudden, tragic loss of her husband, Ian, while Stephanie reflects on losing her husband, Mike, after years of caregiving through cancer. Together, they explore the emotional and practical differences between sudden loss and anticipated loss, offering insight, hope, and community for those navigating grief.

I share the events that led up to that night, why it felt so overwhelming, and the reasons I chose to stay. I also talk about the practical steps, mindset shifts, and emotional tools I’m using now to feel safe, supported, and confident as I move forward in my healing.

If you’ve ever felt lost, scared, or shaken by grief, I hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone and that choosing to stay is an act of strength.